An Insight Into The Key Reasons That Account For Failure in MOT Test

From various data and analysis released by the ‘Vehicle Operator and Services Agency’ (VOSA), one can easily conclude the common reasons for MOT failure. Even the smallest faulty car part can put your and fellow drivers’ life under threat while driving on the road. The surprising fact is – reasons identified for the failure of the MoT Test hadn’t required a pretty penny for the resurrection. If you own a vehicle, you need to put aside your negligence before taking your vehicle for the MOT Test. Or else, it may cost you the failure of the test. ‘Jackson MOT’ is an authorised undertaker of the MOT Test in Northampton and in the wake of our experience, we recommend drivers to take their vehicle for a repair job before they bring it to undergo the test.

Key Reasons Why Your Car Failed the MOT Test

As mentioned above, the reasons for the failure of the MOT Test are quite common – too obvious to guess. Take faulty lamps and reflectors, for instance. They accounted for around 27% of the all MOT Test failure in the previous year! The fact implies that almost 1 out of 4 cars failed the test just because they either had faculty lamps or reflectors out of function. It was a complete shock when Jackson MOT’s professionals were interacting with some folks at our facility for MOT Test in Northampton.

A malfunctioning suspension system is right behind in the data sheet that accounts for 18% test failure. Isn’t it really devastating to know the fact that a failing or worn suspension system can prevent you from taking your car out on the road even for a short drive? Faulty brakes/braking system accounting for 15% test failure, drivers’ viewability on the road (11%), worn-out tyres (10%), fuel and emission system (6%), non-functional steering (4%), and seatbelts (2.9%) are some of the most prominent reasons in the line-up that account for test failure.

What If Your Vehicle Fails the MOT Test?

In case your car/vehicle fails the MOT Test, you are issued the VT30 certificate listing the key parts that caused MOT Test failure. An advisory notice is also issued alongside the VT30 certificate at the MOT tester’s discretion, containing the key inputs to be focused upon. Most of such cases where MOT tester finds it viable to release an advisory notice comprise the information on:

• Parts that are presently functioning fine, but may fail in the next MOT Test

• Other characteristics of your car identified during the MOT Test

• Defects occurring on the non-testable items of your vehicle

The advisory notice holds great significance, specifically when it comes to getting your vehicle ready for the next MOT Test. There is nothing terrifying in the notice that digs your worries out; moreover, it’s meant to make you vigilant and cautious, promoting your safe and sound driving. However, you need to take serious concern with the pointers mentioned in the notice to make sure nothing serious (even fatal) is ignored.

Drive In for an Honest Health Report of Your Vehicle

When people drive into our test facility with their vehicles for MOT Test Northampton, we never intend to build a sense of fear in their minds with the MOT Test report or advisory notice. We remain transparent with the test conducting guidelines and policies. If you are seeking an honest health report of your vehicle, drive into Jackson MOT - we are worth your while.

5 Top Tips to Help You Pass the MOT Test in One Go

 MOT tests can be strenuous. People are bound by the law to take it, and yet many car owners in the UK do not how to pass the MOT at one go. 2018 saw some changes in its regulatory pointers and technicalities. One major question which people often ask is which areas they need to bother about, and which areas can be shrugged off for later.

MOT testing is intensely rigorous, and rightly so. It does not take the brains of a rocket scientist to figure out the ways to convey to the tester that you are ready to hit the roads. Here’s a helping hand!

5 Tips to pass your first MOT with flying colours –

1. Pay attention to the mirrors

Something as elementary as a broken mirror can make you fail the MOT Northampton or any other place for that matter. Sadly but significantly, most drivers do not pay too much attention to broken mirrors. Always remember to check not only the front and rear windshield but even the mirrors and reflective surfaces inside.

Often, people are not aware when their side-view mirrors suffer damage. The key to passing the MOT lies in paying attention to the minute details. If there is even slight chipping of a mirror’s surface, a replacement is necessary.

2. Inspect tyres properly

The devil, it is said, lies in the details. You may have spent significant time making sure your car’s tyres are well-aligned, and the pressure is optimal. However, some very basic errors often remain. For example, a tyre with its outer surface damaged will never pass a more thorough inspection.

To avoid failures, it is best to have a cursory visual lookover of the tyres. Do you notice something lodged on the surface, like rusted metal or chipped stones? You will need to take them out and ensure that the tyres look like new, even if they are ageing. For best results, take the help of professional service technicians at stations like Jacksons MOT Centre. They can help you with your MOT as well as with services such as wheel alignment.

3. Check external lights

You will notice if your vehicle’s front lights are blown. But what about smaller lights, the ones on the side? Not too many would notice if one of their vehicle’s indicator lights went bust. Before you go in for an MOT, check for any loose wiring or bulbs that need replacements.

4. Give the wiper blades a look

Wiper blades are an indispensable part of your vehicle. Unfortunately, they come in for use only occasionally. It also means, conversely, that by that time you notice something awry, it may be too late. The next time you go for a periodic checkup of your vehicle’s tyres Northampton, have the technicians there take a good hard look overall.

5. Mind the license plates

License plates bear the brunt of uncaring weather, jolts and shocks, and harm from other drivers to boot. A cracked plate will cost you the test. Ensure that they are in perfect working condition once every 3 months.

Hopefully, these 5 tips will help you sail through the test, with minimum fuss and with maximum savings, both in monetary penalties and time.

Maintenance Tips For Brakes: How You Can Make Your Brakes Last Longer

While you’re on the road, having a properly functioning braking system is a must to ensure the safety of your car and yourself of course. It requires close attention to details on a regular basis to maintain the automotive brakes.

If your brakes wear out and often you have to visit a mechanic, here are some tips you can use to keep your braking system optimised to handle any situations on the road.

• Identify the problems: Watch while you drive

You have to observe how the braking system is working whenever you are driving. If your brake pedal feels loose, it might be an indication that an oil leakage has occurred in the system.

On the other hand, if you feel that the brake pedal is vibrating, or your steering wheel is vibrating while applying brakes, then this is a sign that your brake disc may have worn out. In such cases, you have to replace them as soon as possible.

For both situations, you need to consult with a car professional and get a brake repair Northampton for your car.

• Avoid over speeding

Whenever you apply brakes at high speeds, it takes a toll on the whole braking system. A car’s motion multiplies into the total momentum. Your brakes need to endure exponentially increased amounts of friction to ensure that you and your car decelerate.

On the other hand, lesser speed means lesser momentum which your braking system has to deal with, requiring lesser friction.

Friction causes wear. If your brake resists a lower amount of friction on average, you will get better longevity out of them.

• Check brake fluid level

The dashboard brake light indicates whenever your car is running low on brake fluid. If the fluid is low on the reservoir, you must remove the wheels and inspect the brakes.

Look out for any fluid leaks (needs repair if any) and measure the thickness of the remaining brake pad. It is recommended to check brake’s fluid level every 10,000 miles.

• Brake fading

Brake fading occurs when the brakes are overused and overheated. It can cause severe damage to the braking system. You can identify the problem if you see the following signs

• The brake pedal de-presses.
• The distance which the car takes to stop after applying brake increases drastically.
• In some cases, the pedal de-presses farther to the floor without generating any braking power.
• A burning odour comes from the brakes.
• In a few cases, the brakes catch fire.

Whenever you notice these signs while driving, the best thing to do is to pull over and allow your brakes to cool. Later, visit a technician and let them help you understand if your brakes need a repair or a replacement.

• Know your brake type

Brake pads are quite complex nowadays. They may include multiple components and are designed for pre-specified performance gradients. Companies are now producing high-performance brake pads which can resist fading even on a high-temperature situation.

The shortcoming about these brakes is that often they perform poorly when it comes to lower temperatures found in standard streets.

However, visiting a professional garage like Jackson’s MOT Centre can help you choose the most suitable brake variant to match your requirements. You may also let them help you with services such as clutch repair, engine diagnostics as well as your MOT Northampton.

Read what changes done by UK government for MOT Test 2018 and What Has Changed & Its Impact

How to Improve Your Car’s Performance without Spending a Single Shilling!

 Everyone loves a car that runs fast, smooth, and trouble free, even if they are driving it for ages. Cars are a precious commodity; you use it for your daily chores and commute, occasional road trips, and much more. However, as time passes, your car’s performance sometimes takes a dip, resulting in expensive repairs and, in extreme conditions, a complete overhaul.

Multiple reasons affect a vehicle’s performance. From modern computer laced ECU to hardware like engine, brakes, transmission, everything contributes to its service life. If you take good care of its vital components and incorporate certain driving and maintenance habits, you can keep it working for years to come. So, let’s take a look at a few tips that will help you maintain your car’s performance for longer.

• Look under the hood – It might seem like a gauntlet under the hood, but if you look closely, everything is clearly marked.

The first thing you should do is keep the engine hub as clean as possible. Look for the air filter, battery terminals, radiator grills, etc. Dust and dirt accumulation is a major concern and can severely affect a car’s output.

For example, if there are acid residue and rust on battery terminals, it will not deliver the optimum charge. It is best to clean it every six months with a solution of one cup lukewarm water and one teaspoon of baking soda.

• Keep it light – Overloading your vehicle puts a lot of strain on its suspension, tyres, drivetrain, and engine. Make sure you stay within the recommended limit mentioned by your car’s manufacturer and also check all 4 of your car tyres weight rating.

• Drive it carefully – Cities and metropolitan areas often have stop and go traffic, which affects the clutch and brakes of your car. Unfortunately, you cannot stop those from wearing out, but you can keep them in the best condition for as long as possible.

Always remember to apply your car brakes gradually, hard braking can warp the brake rotors as well as damage the callipers and brake lines. If you see a stopping light ahead, let go of the accelerator and come to a halt smoothly.

In the same manner, don’t excessively use your car’s clutch either. If you have a stick shift, press the clutch completely before you shift gears. Do not ride the clutch if you don’t want to shorten its lifespan.

With an automatic transmission, accelerate and de-accelerate steadily to reduce wear. This will keep the unit in good condition and make sure you don’t have to go for a clutch repair in Northampton or anywhere else anytime soon.

• Rev it up every once in a while – Allowing your car to warm up (even during summer) and revving it occasionally has some positive sides to it. Letting your engine run for a minute or two at the start of the day will heat the exhaust, and let the fluid pumps run for some time before you drive off. This will decrease the chances of exhaust residue collection or overheating.

Revving your car to the red-line blows out any accumulation inside the catalytic converter and tailpipe. That increases engine efficiency and your car’s emission quality.

Following these tips will help you maintain optimal car performance for a much longer time without you spending one dime on it. Also, it will keep your vehicle in good shape, which means you will need much less repair before going for an MOT in Northampton. For any other major issues with your car, take it to a trustworthy and affordable garage like Jackson’s MOT Centre for repair. They offer a plethora of car servicing and repairs in and around Northampton at reasonable prices.

Some More Truths about MOT: Decode Them All!

MOT test, an acronym of Ministry of Transport test, is devised by the UK government for annual vehicle inspection. Each vehicle after the first three years of its usage needs to pass this litmus test because of the following reasons:

• ·         Vehicle safety
• ·         Road worthiness aspects
• ·         Exhaust emissions

So if you are living in the localities of Northampton, you are already acquainted with all the nitty-gritty regarding MOT test in Northampton.

However, recently the Government made significant tweaks in MOT test implying few strict laws for as a part of long-term betterment.

Here’s an overview of all the MOT changes issued on 20^th May 2018.

1. The first major change incorporated in this inspection is defects found in new MOT are categorised as dangerous, major and minor. To break this advisory category revamped by DVSA are as follows:

• A vehicle with a substantial amount of faults is likely to fall into the category of being dangerous. MoT marks this kind of automobiles immediately as illegal to be driven on public roads.

 One needs to rectify all the discrepancies of his car to get back to the road.

• For instance, the visible smoke of any colour coming from a commute is considered as a major fault. So, according to MoT, it will be a requirement to fix issues like this and retested before the car becomes roadworthy.

• Lastly, a minor fault is the one where a vehicle does not cause an immediate safety risk but needs a faster rectification to ply on the streets of the UK.

2.      Pre- 1978 cars are potentially MoT exempted from May 20^th. Therefore, if you own a classic car registered before May 20^th 1978, its’ a win-win situation for you. 

3.      However, certain other types of vehicles are not exempt, mostly the large commercial ones.

4.      Cars and motorbikes with a Q registration also need to undergo the test as defined by the DVLA.

5.      Another significant addition in the new rule is, to get an exemption from the MOT test Northampton a car owner needs to register as a Vehicle of Historic Interest (VHI).

6.      Guess what? The war on diesel vehicles is not going have an end any time soon. According to the new set of rules, if there’s evidence of diesel particulate filter (DPF) tampering along, the car will own a “major-fault” crown.

7.      Here’s no the endpoint. A lot many checks being introduced which follows:

• The mechanics will check whether your car tyres are under-inflated.

• The current condition of brake pad warning light including the discs.

• Reversing lights on vehicles will undergo an MOT in Northampton which is in usage from 1 September 2009.

• They will even consider a check for any vehicle’s brake fluid including its chance of leakage and contamination.

Hope these insights helped you to understand the insights of new MOT test rule. By the way, if your car is on the verge of completing the prior MoT test anniversary, put your van through a MoT test in Northampton.

Many reliable centres like Jacksons MOT Centre Northampton offer an MOT service to make your car sustainable for you and the environment.

Read The Ultimate Cheat Sheet for Ensuring a Cleared MOT Certificate for Your Vehicle